Can you stand another retro thread?

[That80sRush]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I'm picturing the Ferris Beuhlers to look like Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara)

Actually they did! With spiral perms. They were a very pretty group of girls.

On to the first round...

The first night of rush was three parties. Best Friend had coached me about how to act for rush: Be really friendly, make a good impression. Since this was late September, it was time for fall clothes. I wore my navy blue LL Bean button down corduroy shirt dress, a maroon Gant paisley shirt under it, a maroon Aigner belt, and my navy suede espadrilles. There were a few girls on my hall wearing pants, and I looked at them with the same disdain you’d have for someone eating with the wrong fork: they just didn’t know any better.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: This group’s facility was small-ish, so they didn’t have a lot of room for moving around. Chairs for the rushees were on the perimeter of the room, with chairs for the sisters in a circle facing them. We went in single file and were seated, and it was like musical chairs for the members. When the girl to the right moved over, it was time to meet a new sister. This was one of the two traditionally Jewish sororities on campus, and the girls were all sophisticated, pretty and bubbly. My roommate’s older sister had been a member of this group at SPS and had deactivated three years earlier, so she was going to cut them after the first round before they could cut her.

St. Elmo’s Fire: I went to this party excited to tell the members about how a bunch of my friends had just pledged St. Elmo’s at Big State U. The couple of times that I brought it up, the members didn’t seem too impressed. This was a classy, conservative group of girls.

Sixteen Candles: Oh, I was excited for this one! We met a group of alumnae who explained that the sorority would be recolonizing that year. I talked to a nice alum and was sure to follow Best Friend’s advice: Be really friendly, make a good impression. They showed a slideshow, and told us that this would be their only party of rush, and would have events after rush. I was a little confused about why such a great group would have to do this.

Next day, the rest of the parties:

Pretty in Pink: Any of the guys who commented about this sorority talked about how it had the prettiest girls, and the easiest too. I really liked everyone I met, and they were a sassy, enthusiastic group.

Breakfast Club: What a fun group! I really liked all the girls I talked to here, and they really seemed to like each other. This was the other of the two Jewish sororities, though more non-Jewish girls joined here, I’d heard. I could see why. They were a blast.

Fast Times: I was re-acquainted with my new friends from the meet and greet here, and the President stopped by to say hello. I also met the Rush Chairman, who seemed really happy to meet me. I felt so welcome and happy here, I hated for the party to end.

Some Kind of Wonderful: Finally! I was really excited for this one. I learned from their composite in the Go Greek book that they weren’t as large as the others, but I knew how good they were at Big State U. This was the only party with two rushees per sister, and even then there were long lulls in the conversation. I was trying really hard to be really friendly and make a good impression, but it was hard since the sisters I met didn't seem to be able to do the same. I wanted to like it here, I expected to love it here. I just didn’t.

Footloose: Judging by the photos in the Go Greek book, my dorm friends and I had concluded that this was not going to be a group we’d join. Still, the girls were friendly and talkative, and it was a much nicer experience than the let-down of Some Kind of Wonderful.

Valley Girl: This group seemed to have the highest percentage of blondes. They were nice, and the Valley Girl that I’d met at the meet and greet waved and said hello. I liked them, but didn’t really love them. I was surprised that they were so good, knowing that it wasn’t a really strong group at Big State U.

Our Rho Chi met with us individually the next day with our invitation lists, and we could go back to six parties. I’d been invited back to all eight, and I quickly crossed off Ferris Bueller’s Day Off after that weird rotation experience and Some Kind of Wonderful since it was so painful.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by That80sRush

Since this was late September, it was time for fall clothes. I wore my navy blue LL Bean button down corduroy shirt dress, a maroon Gant paisley shirt under it, a maroon Aigner belt, and my navy suede espadrilles.

L.
O.
L.
I'm sure the under-30 crowd is cringing at the visual, but I know you were STYLIN' in that outfit at the time!

[srmom]

you were STYLIN' in that outfit at the time!

No lie!!

[That80sRush]

I was doing my best to look like I'd just stepped out of a Pappagallo store. I think I succeeded.

[angelove]

I don't know what I love more about this thread - the code names or the clothing descriptions. Your rush is sounding a lot like mine, only a few years earlier and smaller school. I guess it's the whole 1980's vibe that's taking me back ...

[AlphaXi_Husky]

This is a great thread - please continue, and soon!

[That80sRush]

Round Two:

St. Elmo’s Fire: This group had a picnic theme. They all dressed in Laura Ashley dresses, and they’d decorated with quilts on the floor and served lemonade and gingerbread cookies. I had a chance to talk to the girl from my state who I’d met at the meet and greet, and she was a lot of fun.

Pretty in Pink: Their theme was really cute and clever, though I can’t describe it without giving away the group. The skit was really funny, too. I met lots of great girls here, though at the end I was one on one with a somewhat quiet girl who nervously picked at her face. One of the other sisters jumped in to save her.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A fun slumber party theme here! I spent most of the party talking to a pretty blonde girl who was a little sister at one of the big fraternities. She was wearing a Lantz flannel night gown, and we sat on the floor on sleeping bags. I wished I could meet more members, though I tried to be really friendly and make a good impression on her.

Footloose: You could tell that this group was working really hard to put its best foot forward, even though they were smaller. They had a French theme, and passed puff pastry hors d’oeuvres and mini quiches on trays. I was sad for them that there had been a short line outside the front door before the party began, because they really seemed friendly and nice.

Valley Girl: I don’t remember the theme of this party, since I was stuck in a corner with another rushee. She was a bit abrasive, and tried to dominate the conversation with every sister that we met. Unfortunately, she succeeded in most cases. (And she became a member of the Valley Girl pledge class.)

Breakfast Club: Again, I had a blast here! These girls were so easy to talk to. Even though it was the end of the day, they had such great energy. They had a sports theme, which was cute, cute, cute. I didn’t think I’d really fit in here, but still had a great time. Roommate was a legacy at Breakfast Club through her mom, and she planned on cutting them after this round so that her mom wouldn’t start to get any ideas about their being in the same sorority. They didn’t have the best relationship.

The next day we met with our Rho Chi’s. We could go to four parties, and I’d been invited back to six. When I crossed off Breakfast Club and Footloose, she said “Well, that was quick.” I replied “Well, I really know which one I want.” After rush I found out she was a Footloose. Ouch.

Note to PNMs: This was really obnoxious behavior on my part, and looking back I'm a little embarrased that I was so sure that I was going to get my choice.

[NutBrnHair]

Oh yes...this takes me back!

(I loved Lanz night shirts, but can't imaging rushing in them!)

[AlphaXi_Husky]

Originally Posted by That80sRush

Note to PNMs: This was really obnoxious behavior on my part, and looking back I'm a little embarrased that I was so sure that I was going to get my choice.

This makes me think we might be in for a twist in the story!

More please!

[That80sRush]

Next round: Down to four

I wore my light grey straight corduroy skirt and light grey ruffled blouse with a mauve cable sweater vest over it. I didn’t get pearls for graduation, so wore the Marvella faux pearls that my mom had helped me select at the mall. I don’t remember much of the themes from this round, and I only remember this outfit because I have photos. By then everything was starting to blend together.

St. Elmo’s Fire: The more girls I met, the more I was impressed with how polished they seemed. Their parties seemed like something out of the country club scene in Caddyshack – restrained, yet refined.

Pretty in Pink: This group of girls really seemed to love each other. They didn’t fit any particular mold, as it was a mix of Southern belles, New York tough girls, and everything in between. There were a few upperclass girls from my classes who always said hello to me here, which I liked.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High: Every time I came here, I met more members who seemed genuine. The President always stopped by to say hello, which made me feel really welcome. At this party, they did the skit twice since the chapter room was small, and I ended up seeing it both times when rotation broke down.

Valley Girl: Everyone said this was a great group, and several of my hall mates really wanted to be a Valley Girl. The adorable RA in our dorm was one, as was the older sister of one of my hallmates who I liked a lot. I hadn't really clicked with anyone in this group. Plus, I couldn’t go home wearing Valley Girl letters, not when Best Friend cut the group after first round at Big State U.

The next day I had to go down from four to three groups. I had invites to all four, and easily eliminated Valley Girl.

[nittanyalum]

No doubt your awesome fashion sense helped you get a full schedule every round. A mauve cable sweater vest?!!?!? To die for!!!

[That80sRush]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

No doubt your awesome fashion sense helped you get a full schedule every round. A mauve cable sweater vest?!!?!? To die for!!!

Oh, how I loved that cotton sweater vest!!! It was from The Limited -- The Hunter's Run (Polo knockoff) line. In the summer I wore it with my cute pink and purple madras shorts.

Of course, it was my fabulous wardrobe that gave me such success. Combined with the "Be really friendly and make a good impression" advice and lots of hair spray to keep the hot roller curls from falling.

[Scully]

I can't wait for more! I'm rooting for Fast Times.

[That80sRush]

The next round: Three parties before preference round.

This was a looooong time ago and I didn’t take notes, so I can’t really remember the themes very well. I wore a pink cotton blouse that had tuxedo tucks down the front and a high collar with a tie made out of the same fabric, and the grey flannel straight skirt from the suit that my mom had insisted I would need.


St. Elmo’s Fire: That they were a bit more low-key made them more desirable. It was almost like there was an air of “we’ll select you if we want you.” That I kept getting invited back here made me feel special, even if I hadn’t really bonded with many of the girls I’d talked with.


Pretty in Pink: Though this group was bouncy and fun, I was still trying to leave the guys’ comments of their reputation out of my decision making. They had a Cats theme, and one of the girls with a really awesome voice sang Memory – it was touching. I talked with a pretty, polished senior, and asked her why she chose Pretty in Pink. She enthusiastically told me that Pretty in Pink was just "her" and she loved everything about it, and her best friends were the ones she had met there. I wanted to love a sorority as much as she did, but wasn’t sure that Pretty in Pink was "me."



Fast Times at Ridgemont High: Their skit had a 50's theme, and they served Coke in the small bottles with straws. For decorations, they had 45 records hanging from the ceiling. I’d met so many girls that I wanted to be friends with forever. That Best Friend had pledged this group at Big State U was a bonus. I really felt like I belonged here.

I was invited to all three for prefs, and could only go to two. This was the first time that I had to think twice. Fast Times was definitely on the list. I just couldn’t see myself as a Pretty in Pink, as much as I’d tried and as hard as they’d rushed me. Since I might transfer back to Big State U, wanted to have my friends in St. Elmo’s there to fall back on. So, Pretty in Pink was the one I cut, though with a twinge of doubt if I’d done the right thing.

[33girl]

Awww, you cut Duckie.

I think I have seen your outfit on approximately 346384682364 of the girls on our 80s composites. (I was on them too, just not THAT preppy.)